Resilient sound post for musical instruments



A ril 1, 1941,

RESILIENT Filed Aug 19, 1939 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT SOUND POST FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 7 Claims.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for vastly increasing the vibratory response of the tonal chamber, this increased vibratory response making it possible to achieve without effort, tones of a much more clear and pure quality, that are free in an unusually accentuated degree, making it possible to execute the loudest fortissimo, or the softest pianissimo without any break in the tones.

Another object of the invention is to embellish the richness of tone in all musical string instruments, regardless of quality or model design.

A further object of the invention is to increase by a wide margin, the volume in tone, of all musical string instruments, regardless of size or model design,

A still further object of the invention is the elimination of many harsh and unpleasant tones that are characteristic of musical string instruments.

With the aforesaid objects in view, I now submit the following description, referring to the appended drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a violin, showing the position therein of the resilient sound post;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the resilient sound post, showing the outer-section view; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the resilient sound post, showing the inner section view.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views: In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, I have illustrated a tubular body 2 made of wood, and an inner core structure 3 for said tubular body. This core 3, which may be made in two sections, is composed of a resilient substance such as finely-grained cork impregnated with an adhesive, or any other cork compound, and has enlarged opposite ends 4 which extend beyond the tubular body, and which are also composed of cork. The position and ratio of the tubular body and the core will depend on the size and character of the instrument.

In use, the sound post is positioned in the sound chamber of a stringed instrument 5, and is held in place by the frictional engagement of the resilient enlarged opposite ends of the post with the front and back walls 6 and 1, respectively, of the instrument, thereby resiliently anchoring the post therebetween. The bridge 8,

which is mounted on the front wall 6 of the instrument, has one of its legs 9 in direct alignment with the sound post.

While I have described a particular combination of materials, I do not wish to be limited to that particular combination, as it is my belief that numerous other materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferable exemplification of the invention.

The invention is applicable to both the cheapest and most expensive instruments. With only a slight pressure on the bow, much more volume Will result than could be obtained otherwise, even with considerable increase in pressure.

By numerous tests, applicant who is by trade a violin maker, has established the unusual superiority of his invention, and his results have been affirmatively checked by well known violin artists.

I claim:

1. A resilient sound post for a musical instrument comprising a tubular body of wood, and an inner core structure of cork extending outside said tubular body at both extremities thereof.

2. A resilient sound post for musical instruments comprising a tubular body of wood and an inner core structure of cork extending outside said tubular body at both extremities thereof and having resilient opposite ends.

3. A resilient sound post for a musical instrument comprising a tubular body of wood, and an inner core structure of cork, said core having enlarged opposite ends extending beyond said body.

4. A resilient sound post for a musical instrument comprising a tubular body, and a yielding solid core extending therethrough and outside both extremities thereof, said core being provided with enlarged opposite ends for engagement with the front and back walls of the musical instrument.

5. A resilient sound post for a musical instrument comprising a tubular body of wood, and an inner core structure extending outside said tubular body at both extremities thereof and having resilient opposite ends, said inner core and said ends being of fine-grained cork impregnated with adhesive.

6. A resilient sound post for a sound chamber of a musical instrument comprising a tubular body and an inner core structure extending outside said tubular body at both extremities thereof.

7. A resilient sound post for a musical instrument comprising a tubular body and an inner core structure extending outside said tubular body at both extremities thereof, said core structure being provided with enlarged opposite ends.

GIUSEPPE VIRZI. 

